During the week of May 3-7, 2010, El Camino Hospital held several events in honor of Mental Health Awareness Week.
Monday May 3
12:00 p.m.-12:30 p.m. Dark Glasses and Kaleidoscopes: A Short Film on Bipolar Disorder
Join Host Tony Dow for an exploration of the symptoms and treatment of manic depression through honest, emotional testimony of people and families who live with these illnesses. Presenter: Tony Dow
Conference Room G
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.: In Our Own Voice
This is a unique public education program developed by the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), in which two trained consumer speakers share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery. Facilitator: John Mitchem
Conference Room G
5:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Mental Health First Aid
With a vision of becoming as commonplace as CPR and first aid, mental health first aid is a program that builds mental health literacy and teaches non-clinicians basic skills in how to help someone experiencing a mental health problem of crisis. Learn good first-line-responder skills in dealing with major mental illnesses. Presenters: Deborah Pell and Jennifer Lee
Conference Room G
Tuesday May 4
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Poster Presentation
In this hour-long open poster session, enthusiastic students present their posters. Learn about mental illnesses including anxiety disorder, eating disorder and illness in older adults in a uniquely simplified way as seen through the eyes of students. These students are undergoing internships at the Behavioral Health Unit of El Camino Hospital Mountain View. Presenters: De Anza College and San Jose State University students
Conference Room A & B
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.: Family Panel
NAMI family members will relate some of the emotional challenges and the legal and systemic obstacles experienced while trying to help a loved one. Most of the panel members have been through NAMI's Family to Family course. This course helps family members cope successfully with major challenges in their life and that, in turn, helps their loved one as he or she works towards recovery. Conference Room G
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Parents and Teacher as Allies
This is a panel discussion of parents who train or have underwent training with NAMI's Basics Program for Parents of young children, Parents and Teachers as Allies classes. This session focuses on helping school professionals and families within the school community better understand the early warning signs of mental illnesses in children and adolescents and how best to intervene so that youth with mental health treatment needs are linked with services. Coordinator: Kathy Forward
Conference Room E
5:00 p.m. -5:30 p.m.: Art and Wellness Studio
An inspiring place for artists with disabilities. As a part of the Grace Community Center, the Art and Wellness Studio has been serving people with mental disabilities for more than 30 years. Clients served here see this place as a safe place to be free from judgment and stigma, where acceptance, support and recovery are primary goals. Presenters: Lisa Giovannetti and Stacey Thompson Conference Rooms A and B
Wednesday May 5
12:45 p.m.-1:15 p.m.: Eating Disorders
Anorexia and bulimia are complex illnesses that mostly affect women and girls and seriously impact both physical and mental health. Learn more about eating disorders in this session and find out about the resources available in the community. There is no need to suffer when help is available and people can return to healthy way of life. Presenter: Carol Dietrich
Conference Room G
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.: Schizophrenia
Known for his research work in the genetics of brain function, Dr. Douglas Levinson helps strip away the ignorance and fear associated with schizophrenia, reminding us that, despite the distortions of personality and perceptions induced by chemical imbalances of the brain, many of those living with this illness lead lives of extraordinary courage and accomplishment, deserving of our compassion and admiration. Presenter: Dr Douglas Levinson Stanford, University professor and researcher
Conference Rooms E and F
5:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Mental Health First Aid
With a vision of becoming as commonplace as CPR and first aid, mental health first aid is a program that builds mental health literacy and teaches non-clinicians basic skills in how to help someone experiencing a mental health problem of crisis. Learn good first-line-responder skills in dealing with major mental illnesses. Presenters: Deborah Pell and Jennifer Lee
Conference Rooms A and B
Thursday May 6
12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m.: Residential Settings for people with Mental Illness
Learn about residential treatment options through Momentum for Mental Health, which offers a comprehensive array of treatment, rehabilitation and housing programs and services to people of all ages recovering from psychiatric disabilities. Presenter: Judy De'Bernardi from Momentum for Mental Health
Conference Rooms E and F
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Suicide and Suicide Prevention
Student suicides are a painful subject for schools and colleges. Because of the stigma of a suicide, many families wish the death to be declared something other than a suicide. Vic Ojakian, former mayor of Palo Alto, and his wife Mary Ojakian are on a mission to save lives. Here they present the facts about suicide and how to deal with the loss of a loved one. Presenters: Mary Ojakian and Vic Ojakian
Conference Room E
5:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Crisis Intervention Training
Learn about the resources available to family members when the need arises to call the police because a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis. Sharon Roth, former president of NAMI, and the San Jose Police Department brought Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) to Santa Clara County and then to San Mateo County. Learn more about the CIT training and how to work collaboratively with the police department. Presenter: Sharon Roth
Conference Rooms A and B
Friday, May 7th
11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.: Understanding the "Doubting Disease": An Inside Look at Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
In this hour-long talk, author, local news anchor, and national OCD spokesperson Jeff Bell offers a first-person account of living with, and recovering from the worst of, OCD. Using his personal story as a backdrop, Bell provides an overview of OCD obsessions and compulsions, exposure/response-prevention treatment, and current research into the disorder. Presenter: Jeff Bell
Conference Room E
2:00 p.m.– 3:00 p.m.: Perinatal Mental Health
Adjusting to the birth of a baby can bring about emotional and psychological changes that are overwhelming. Learn about prenatal and post partum depression--the illnesses that affects about 10 to 20 percent of women. Presenters: Dr. Nirmaljit Dhami and Kris Peterson
Conference Room G
May 3 through May 7 (Every Day)
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Experience Hallucinations: appreciate art (art displays by artists with disabilities)
- Encourage Students (poster presentations)
- Staff and NAMI volunteers will answer questions at tables outside the El Camino Hospital cafeteria